Scratch vs Kit

So you just went to a high power launch for the first time and you're hooked! You go and buy some small Estes kits from a local hobby store and begin your travels down the road to a larger family. After several launches you attend, the passion builds inside you to build those larger, more powerful rockets those other guys were launching. So you ask the most famous question, 'How can I launch a rocket like that?' Different fliers have their own opinions and there's nothing wrong with that. Experienced fliers build their own designed rockets. Some still build kits but have more fun "Wowing" the crowd and fellow rocketeers with their own designed rockets.

So what do you do? You ask around and you're now thoroughly confused whether to scratch build your first high power rocket or buy a kit. Why would you be confused?? Because it's cheaper to scratch build a rocket than it is to buy a kit. But then you ask yourself, "what pieces do I need build a rocket?" GREAT QUESTION!! There are several websites that can help. A few, in no particular order, are Info-Central, LOC and PML. The first is a great website with TONS of information. The other two have full components for building a rocket from scratch, replacing some parts on a current rocket, and even have kits of their own design.

My first high power rocket(Koliba Komet) was scratch built. Very simple design and easy to build. There is a lot that goes into a rocket build. There are several different types of tube material to choose from(paper, phenolic, fiberglass, carbon fiber, etc) but you must also choose the correct epoxy to use. Your not gonna use Elmer's glue for these let me assure you that!
Each different type of material needs a good epoxy. So for a beginner, I would suggest paper tubes and just some hobby store 20-30 minute epoxy. That's what I did and had no problems. You want to keep it as simple as possible. The only thing that's difficult building a scratch rocket for your first HPR is that you don't have instructions to follow. All parts are needed. Airframe tubes, motor mount tube, coupler, u-bolt(s) or eye-bolt(s), shock cord(s), parachute(s), fins, and finally the obvious nose cone.

That leads us to a kit. Majority of kits come with almost everything that you need, parts that is, to build it. Most beginner kits come with easy to follow instructions. There may be some re-designing you may want to do to "customize it" to your specifications but keep in mind that the manufacturers that sell kits design them specifically so don't go over-board. Again, remember the KISS method. Epoxy methods don't differ whether you scratch build your rocket or buy a kit. It all depends on the material type that you choose to use.

So what are you going to do? The choice is yours but it's a difficult one. Depending on your knowledge of rocket building will depend on what you choose. I chose to scratch build that way I was able to learn how to without following an instruction guide. I have built two kits and one scratch. Price difference is summed up by what you want to build. Scratch built rockets are typically cheaper, depending on design of course. Whatever you choose to build, have fun but be safe. Let experience come with time!!